United States President Barack Obama announced his 2014 Budget Wednesday with a $9.5 million reduction in spending on the battle against the Colombian drug trade.
Obama called on U.S. Congress to earmark $319 million to combat the drug trade in Colombia, a reduction from the current fiscal year’s spending which stands at $328.5 million.
U.S. spending on the “war against drugs” in Colombia has dropped around 50% since the first years of Plan Colombia.
The U.S. resources will aid the Colombian government in efforts against drug-traffickers, guerrillas and neo-paramilitaries that profit from the trade.
The funding from the Department of State for the 2013 fiscal year saw a $16.4 million decrease from 2012. According to the White House, “much of the decrease last year was “due to the successful nationalization of the Colombian Army Aviation and Counterdrug Brigade programs.”
The Budget also calls on Congress to approve an increase of funds for $1.5 billion for drug-prevention programs.
The White House is seeking to spend $3.7 billion on intercepting drugs along with $1.4 billion for drug-control outside the U.S.
U.S. Aid to Colombia 2008 – 2013
Source: Just the Facts
Sources
- President’s FY 2014 budget supporting 21st century drug policy (Whitehouse.gov)
- White House budget drug punishment (Huffington Post)
- FY 2014 drug control budget highlights (Whitehouse.gov)
- Obama pide US $319 millones para Plan Colombia (Radio Santa Fe)
